Helmet accessory system

ABSTRACT

A method of attaching a jaw protector to a helmet. The method includes fastening, with a first fastening means, a jaw protector to an outside face of a brace at a first position; and fastening, with a second fastening means, an inside face of the brace to the helmet at a second position. The helmet accessory system includes a cantilevered jaw protector; a brace; and a fastening means, wherein the fastening means is configured to attach the cantilevered jaw protector to the brace at a first position; and attach the brace to a helmet at a second position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S.provisional application No. 62/810,142, filed on Feb. 25, 2019, theentire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as if set forthin its entirety herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments described herein generally relate to a helmet accessorysystem and, more specifically, a helmet accessory system configured tofasten a jaw protector to a helmet. Some embodiments relate to a methodof attaching a jaw protector to a helmet with an intermediate brace.

BACKGROUND

Helmets and other protective head gear are used in a wide variety ofsports and travel activities spanning from baseball and football to racecar driving and motorcycling. Protective headgear often relies upon ahard, structured outer casing with an impact energy absorbing paddingplaced between the outer casing and the user's head. If a user wearingsuch headgear suffers an impact to the outer shell, the combination ofhard shell and padding absorbs the impact energy and the user sustainsless of the initial impact. Headgear may also protect a user from impactby bracing the head of a user in a certain position to better protectthe neck.

Headgear currently available in certain markets today may not protectthe entire head. Baseball helmets often only protect the sides back andtop of the head, leaving the face, jaw, and neck exposed. Customizedhelmets may be used to protect a greater area of the head and neck.Helmet accessories may also be purchased for additional protection, butthese often require modifications to existing helmets to be usedproperly. For example, the shell may need to be drilled to addfasteners. These accessories may require a user to purchase extraequipment, such as a drill, for installation. Furthermore, theaccessories may require a user to have a basic knowledge of power toolsto properly modify the helmet. Additionally, because some sports leaguesand organizations do not allow helmet modifications, this type ofaccessory may not be usable for some sports players.

A need exists, therefore, for systems and methods for helmet accessorysystems that overcome the disadvantages of existing systems.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This summary is not meant or intended to identify orexclude key features or essential features of the claimed subjectmatter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scopeof the claimed subject matter.

According to one aspect, embodiments relate to a helmet accessorysystem. The system includes a cantilevered jaw protector; a brace; and afastening means, wherein the fastening means is configured to attach thecantilevered jaw protector to the brace at a first position; and attachthe brace to a helmet at a second position.

In one embodiment, the second position is an ear cover of the helmet.

In one embodiment, the brace is configured to be attached to the helmetat a left ear cover of the helmet; removed from the left ear cover ofthe helmet; and attached to the helmet at a right ear cover of thehelmet.

In one embodiment, the fastening means is configured to secure anangular position of the cantilevered jaw protector.

In one embodiment, the brace has an outside face and an inside face; thefirst position is the outside face of the brace; and the second positionis the inside face of the brace.

In one embodiment, the fastening means comprises at least one bolt.

In one embodiment, the brace comprises at least one first aperture atthe first position and at least one second aperture at the secondposition.

In one embodiment, the at least one first aperture and at least onesecond aperture are holes.

In one embodiment, the at least one first aperture and at least onesecond aperture are distributed such that the fastening means isconfigured to thread through the at least one first aperture at anopening in the cantilevered jaw protector; and the fastening means isconfigured to thread through the at least one second aperture at anopening in the helmet.

In one embodiment, the brace has an indentation on an inner surfaceconfigured to comply with a contour of an ear cover of the helmet.

In one embodiment, the brace has an indentation on an inner surfaceconfigured to comply with a contour of a right ear of the helmet.

In one embodiment, the brace has an indentation on an inner surfaceconfigured to comply with a contour of a left ear of the helmet.

In one embodiment, the brace comprises a thermoplastic material.

According to another aspect, embodiments relate to a method of attachinga jaw protector to a helmet. The method comprises fastening, with afirst fastening means, a jaw protector to an outside face of a brace ata first position; and fastening, with a second fastening means, aninside face of the brace to the helmet at a second position.

In one embodiment, the second position is a left ear cover of thehelmet.

In one embodiment, the second position is a right ear cover of thehelmet.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises detaching the insideface of the brace from the left ear cover of the helmet and attachingthe inside face of the brace to a right ear cover of the helmet.

In one embodiment, the brace comprises at least one first aperture atthe first position and at least one second aperture at the secondposition.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises securing an angularposition of the jaw protector.

In one embodiment, the jaw protector is a cantilevered jaw protector.

In one embodiment, the first fastening means and second fastening meansare bolts.

In one embodiment, the brace is an interface between the jaw protectorand the helmet; the jaw protector is an unmodified jaw protector; andthe helmet is an unmodified helmet.

In one embodiment, the brace has an indentation on an inner surfaceconfigured to comply with a contour of an ear cover of the helmet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of this disclosure aredescribed with reference to the following figures, wherein likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various viewsunless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a helmet accessory system,incorporating a helmet shell, brace, cantilevered jaw protector, and aplurality of fastening means in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 2A-2C illustrate the front, top and side views of a brace design inaccordance with one embodiment;

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate the front and side views of a brace attached to ahelmet in accordance with one embodiment; and

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate the unfolded, left folded, and right folded viewsof a reversible brace in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments are described more fully below with reference to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show specificexemplary embodiments. However, the concepts of the present disclosuremay be implemented in many different forms and should not be construedas limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, theseembodiments are provided as part of a thorough and complete disclosure,to fully convey the scope of the concepts, techniques andimplementations of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.Embodiments may be practiced as methods, systems or devices. Thefollowing detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in alimiting sense.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or to “an embodiment”means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic describedin connection with the embodiments is included in at least one exampleimplementation or technique in accordance with the present disclosure.The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places inthe specification are not necessarily all referring to the sameembodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in some embodiments” invarious places in the specification are not necessarily all referring tothe same embodiments.

In addition, the language used in the specification has been principallyselected for readability and instructional purposes and may not havebeen selected to delineate or circumscribe the disclosed subject matter.Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative, andnot limiting, of the scope of the concepts discussed herein.

Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for attaching ajaw protector to a helmet. The helmet may be a standard sports helmet,such as a softball helmet or baseball helmet. In some embodiments, thesystem may include a cantilevered jaw protector, a brace, and afastening means configured to attach the cantilevered jaw protector tothe brace and attach the brace to the helmet. Some embodiments mayinclude a method of fastening the jaw protector to the helmet with abrace. In some embodiments, the method includes fastening a jawprotector to an outside face of a brace and fastening an inside face ofthe brace to the helmet. In some embodiments, the brace may be attachedto the helmet in a first position and the brace may be attached to thejaw protector in a second position.

In some embodiments, the brace may attach to a helmet in pre-existingholes in a standard helmet, such as an ear hole, side vent, or backvent. The brace may attach to only one side of a helmet in someembodiments. For example, in some embodiments, the brace may be curvedto protect the left side of the jaw and may attach to the left side ofthe helmet. In some embodiments, the brace may be curved to protect theright side of the jaw and may attach to the right side of the helmet.

In some embodiments, the brace may be adjustable. A user may be able tofold and reverse the brace, such that the brace can be attached to theright side of the helmet, detached, and then attached to the left sideof the helmet and vice versa. In some embodiments, the brace may becompatible with both right handed batter helmets and left handed batterhelmets.

In some embodiments, a system may include a helmet with at least one earcover configured to receive a brace for attachment of jaw protectors ofcantilevered design. The brace may include a distribution of apertures,such as holes or slots, that are used with fasteners to attach theselected jaw protectors to selected helmets of different brands, withoutthe need to modify the selected jaw protector and the selected helmet.An unmodified jaw protector is a jaw protector that has not beendrilled, cut, or otherwise changed since the time of manufacture of thejaw protector. An unmodified jaw protector may have existing holes anddivots at the time of manufacture. An unmodified helmet is a helmet thathas not been drilled, cut, or otherwise changed since the time ofmanufacture of the helmet. An unmodified helmet may have existing holesand divots at the time of manufacture. In some embodiments, the helmetsare batting helmets.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective, exploded view of a helmetaccessory system 100. The helmet accessory system 100 attaches a jawprotector 108 to a helmet 101 with a brace 106. In some embodiments, thejaw protector 108 may be a cantilevered jaw protector 108. The jawprotector 108 may be attached to the brace 106 with fasteners 109. Thefasteners 109 may be threaded through holes in the jaw protector 108 andmay attach the jaw protector to a brace 106. The brace may attach to thehelmet 101 with a second set of fasteners 107. In some embodiments, thefasteners 107, 109 may be screws, studs, or bolts.

Although three fasteners 109 are illustrated in FIG. 1, embodiments mayuse as few as one fastener 109 to attach the jaw protector 108 to thebrace 106 and to the helmet 101.

In some embodiments, fasteners 109 may extend through the jaw protector108, the brace 106 and the ear cover 102. In some embodiments, theassembly may not use inner fasteners 107 and may only use outerfasteners 109. In some embodiments only using outer fasteners 109, outerfasteners 109 are long enough to extend into holes 104. In someembodiments, at least one hole of the jaw protector 108 may share anaxis with at least one hole of the ear cover 102.

Holes 104 may include inserts 105, which can be threaded for bolts orsmooth for different kinds of snap-fits. The combination of holes 104and inserts 105 may be used for mounting protection devices such as facemasks in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the fasteners 107 maysecure the inserts 105.

Holes 104 and inserts 105 used may depend on the helmet brand and thekind of protection device used in some embodiments. In some embodiments,jaw protectors 108 can be adapted to some helmets without priormodification. In some embodiments, at least one of the jaw protector 108and helmet 101 may require modification. In some embodiments,modification may include removing helmet padding or drilling additionalholes to incorporate jaw protection. In some embodiments, differentbraces 106 may be created with shapes specific to different standardhelmets 101.

In some embodiments, the inner surface of the brace 106 may be designedto hold inserts 105, where fasteners 109 are attached. Fasteners 109 mayextend through the brace 106 and the jaw protector 108, and may attachthe jaw protector 108 to the brace 106. By using the existing helmethole distribution 104, no modification may be necessary for attachingthe jaw protector 108 to the helmet 101 in some embodiments. The resultin some embodiments may be a sandwich structure composed of a helmet101, a brace 106, and a jaw protector 108.

In some embodiments, the brace 106 is configured to attach to a standardbatting helmet 101. In some embodiments, the helmet 101 maybe a standardleft handed batting helmet. In some embodiments, the helmet 101 maybe astandard right-handed batting helmet. In some embodiments the fasteners107 may thread through holes in the brace 106 and may attach to holes104 which preexist in a standard batting helmet 101. In some embodimentsthe fasteners 107 may thread through three holes 104 and in someembodiments the fasteners 107 may thread through two or fewer holes 104.In some embodiments, the attachment spacing maybe adjusted by selectingdifferent holes in the brace 106. In some embodiments, the brace 106 mayattach to the helmet 101 at holes 104 spaced throughout the ear cover102 or in the ear aperture 103.

In some embodiments, the brace 106 and the jaw protector 108 maybecurved such that the jaw of the user may be protected when the userwears the helmet 101 with the attached brace 106 and jaw protector 108.In some embodiments, the jaw protector 108 maybe specifically curved toprotect the left side of the user's jaw or the right side of the user'sjaw.

FIG. 2A illustrates a front view of one-directional brace 106 shown inFIG. 1, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, thebrace 106 may incorporate indentation 116 to comply with the contour ofear aperture 103 of the helmet 101 shown in FIG. 1. In some embodiments,the external surface 126 may be contoured to comply with a jawprotection device, such as the jaw protector 108 in FIG. 1. In someembodiments, counterbore surfaces 136A, 136B may be incorporated forcontact between a brace 106 and the heads of fasteners 107 shown inFIG. 1. In some embodiments, the brace 106 may incorporate adistribution of apertures 146, 156 which comply with helmet and jawprotector hole distributions of standard helmets 101. To meet specifiedhole distributions, apertures may have circular cross sections, such ascross section 146. In some embodiments, apertures may have differentslot designs 156 to comply with specified hole distributions in existinghelmets. In some embodiments, aperture design may be engineered suchthat a selected jaw protector can be attached to a selected helmetwithout post-purchase modifications of the jaw protector or the helmet.

FIG. 2B illustrates a top view of a brace 106 and the three-dimensionalexterior surface 126, designed to attach to the interior surface of ajaw protector in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments,the exterior surface 126 may be curved such that the curvature curvestoward and around the jaw of a user when the brace 106 is attached to ahelmet.

FIG. 2C illustrates a side view of brace 106 and three-dimensionalinterior surface 166, designed to attach to the exterior surface of earcover 102 of a helmet 101 in accordance with some embodiments. In someembodiments, the brace 106 is shaped such that the top edge matches theear aperture 103 of the helmet 101.

FIG. 3A illustrates a lateral view of a helmet accessory system attachedto a helmet 101. In some embodiments, the brace 106 may be attached tothe ear cover 102 of the helmet 101 with fasteners (not shown). In someembodiments, before the brace 106 is attached to the ear cover 102 ofthe helmet 101, holes in the ear cover 102 may be aligned with holes inthe brace 106. In some embodiments, when the brace 106 is attached tothe helmet 101, the ear aperture 103 may remain exposed. In someembodiments, fasteners may be threaded through the holes to attach thebrace 106 to the helmet 101. In some embodiments, the brace 106 mayattach to a right-handed batter helmet 101, depicted in configuration300.

FIG. 3B illustrates a front view of helmet configuration 300 inaccordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the brace 106 mayoverlap with the ear cover 102, such that the outside edge of the brace106 matches the outside edge ear cover 102.

FIG. 3C illustrates a front view of a left handed batter configurationfor helmet 101, in accordance with some embodiments. In someembodiments, the brace 106 may be curved to conform to the curvature ofa left ear cover instead of a right ear cover. In some embodiments, thebrace may be flexible enough to change curvatures. In some embodiments,the brace 106 is a rigid structure imprinted with a curved innersurface.

In some embodiments, a right handed batter brace 106 a may be anon-rigid brace and may conform to the left ear cover of the helmet 101,shown in configuration 310 of FIG. 3B. In some embodiments, the righthanded batter brace may be a mirror image of a left handed batter brace106 b shown in helmet configuration 320 in accordance with someembodiments.

In some embodiments, the brace 106 may be made of a thermoplasticmaterial or other rigid material, such as impact resistant ABS plasticor polycarbonate. Known manufacturing methods such as injection molding,3D printing and/or machining may be used to manufacture a brace 106. Insome embodiments, differently sized braces 106 may be manufactured toconform to different helmets 101. In some embodiments, braces 106 may bemanufactured to fit left handed batter's helmets and right handedbatter's helmets. In some embodiments, braces 106 may be manufacturedwith a different set of holes and indentations from what is illustratedin FIG. 3 to comply with a different helmet configuration.

FIG. 4A illustrates a reversible brace 400 in an unfolded configurationin accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, a brace 400may be configured to be attached to either the left side or the rightside of a helmet. To achieve this ambidextrous batting helmetconfiguration, the brace 400 may be foldable along a seam 410. In someembodiments, the holes 405′, 405″ may be mirror images of each other,such that when the brace 400 is folded along a seam 410, the holes 405′,405″ may match. In some embodiments, when the brace 400 is folded, theedges 425′, 425″ of the brace 400 may also similarly match, such thatthe folded configuration of the brace 400 appears similar to the brace106 illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C.

In some embodiments, the brace 400 may have an indented well 415 housinga plurality of holes 420. In some embodiments, the indented well 415 maybe configured to accommodate the heads of fasteners securing the brace400 to a jaw protector and a helmet. In some embodiments, the indentedwell 415 on one side of the brace 400 may be a mirror image of theindented well on other side of the brace 400.

In some embodiments, when the brace 400 is folded along the seam 410,the brace 400 may have a curve. In some embodiments, the brace 400 maybe configured to curve either left or right, depending on the desiredattachment point of the brace 400. For example, in some embodiments, thebrace 400 may be curved to fit the left ear cover of a helmet or theright ear cover of a helmet.

FIGS. 4B and 4C illustrate the left folded and right foldedconfigurations of the brace 400. If the brace 400 is folded along theseam 410 in one direction, the brace 400 may curve to form a brace 400fitting a left ear cover of a helmet. If the brace 400 is folded alongthe seam 410 in another direction, the brace 400 may curve to form abrace 400 fitting a right ear cover of a helmet. In some embodiments,the seam 410 may be placed such that the outside edges 425′, 425″ maymatch and form a thick outer edge 425 when the brace 400 is folded.

Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using nomore than routine experimentation and/or engineering, many equivalentsto the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. The scopeof the present invention is not intended to be limited to the aboveDescription, but rather is as set forth in the claims that follow thereference list.

Various embodiments are described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part hereof, and which show specific exemplaryembodiments. However, the concepts of the present disclosure may beimplemented in many different forms and should not be construed aslimited to the embodiments described herein; rather, these embodimentsare provided as part of a thorough and complete disclosure, to fullyconvey the scope of the concepts, techniques and implementations of thepresent disclosure to those skilled in the art. Embodiments may bepracticed as methods, systems or devices. The previous detaileddescription is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or to “an embodiment”means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic describedin connection with the embodiments is included in at least one exampleimplementation or technique in accordance with the previous disclosure.The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places inthe specification are not necessarily all referring to the sameembodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in some embodiments” invarious places in the specification are not necessarily all referring tothe same embodiments.

Also, features described with respect to certain configurations may becombined in various other configurations. Different aspects and elementsof the configurations may be combined in a similar manner. Also,technology evolves and, thus, many of the elements are examples and donot limit the scope of the disclosure or claims.

Having been provided with the description and illustration of thepresent application, one skilled in the art may envision variations,modifications, and alternate embodiments falling within the generalinventive concept discussed in this application that do not depart fromthe scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A helmet accessory system comprising: acantilevered jaw protector; a brace; and a fastening means, wherein thefastening means is configured to: attach the cantilevered jaw protectorto the brace at a first position; and attach the brace to a helmet at asecond position.
 2. The helmet accessory system of claim 1, wherein thesecond position is an ear cover of the helmet.
 3. The helmet accessorysystem of claim 1, wherein the brace is configured to be: attached tothe helmet at a left ear cover of the helmet; removed from the left earcover of the helmet; and attached to the helmet at a right ear cover ofthe helmet.
 4. The helmet accessory system of claim 1, wherein thefastening means is configured to secure an angular position of thecantilevered jaw protector.
 5. The helmet accessory system of claim 1,wherein: the brace has an outside face and an inside face; the firstposition is the outside face of the brace; and the second position isthe inside face of the brace.
 6. The helmet accessory system of claim 1,wherein the fastening means comprises at least one bolt.
 7. The helmetaccessory of claim 1, wherein the brace comprises at least one firstaperture at the first position and at least one second aperture at thesecond position.
 8. The helmet accessory of claim 7, wherein the atleast one first aperture and at least one second aperture are holes. 9.The helmet accessory of claim 7, wherein the at least one first apertureand at least one second aperture are distributed such that: thefastening means is configured to thread through the at least one firstaperture at an opening in the cantilevered jaw protector; and thefastening means is configured to thread through the at least one secondaperture at an opening in the helmet.
 10. The helmet accessory of claim1, wherein the brace has an indentation on an inner surface configuredto comply with a contour of an ear cover of the helmet.
 11. The helmetaccessory of claim 1, wherein the brace has an indentation on an innersurface configured to comply with a contour of a right ear cover of thehelmet.
 12. The helmet accessory of claim 1, wherein the brace comprisesa thermoplastic material.
 13. A method of attaching a jaw protector to ahelmet, the method comprising: fastening, with a first fastening means,a jaw protector to an outside face of a brace at a first position; andfastening, with a second fastening means, an inside face of the brace tothe helmet at a second position.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein thesecond position is a left ear cover of the helmet.
 15. The method ofclaim 14, further comprising detaching the inside face of the brace fromthe left ear cover of the helmet and attaching the inside face of thebrace to a right ear cover of the helmet.
 16. The method of claim 13,wherein the brace comprises at least one first aperture at the firstposition and at least one second aperture at the second position. 17.The method of claim 13, further comprising securing an angular positionof the jaw protector.
 18. The method of claim 13 wherein the jawprotector is a cantilevered jaw protector.
 19. The method of claim 13wherein: the brace is an interface between the jaw protector and thehelmet; the jaw protector is an unmodified jaw protector; and the helmetis an unmodified helmet.
 20. The method of claim 13 wherein the bracehas an indentation on an inner surface configured to comply with acontour of an ear cover of the helmet.